Elevator control and signaling system



F. E. LEWIS 2,005,899

ELEVATOR CONTROL AND SIGNALING SYSTEM June 25, 1935.

Original Filed Aug. 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l WK]. INVENTOR ErazzKELewzIs June 25, 1935. LEW 2,005,899

ELEVATOR CONTROL AND SIGNALING SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 26, 1929 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 INVENTOR Fran/i ELeWis' lg BY ATII'ORNEY Patented June 25, 1935 PATENT OFFICE ELEVATOR CONTROL AND SIGNALING SYSTEM Frank E. Lewis, East Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 26,

1929, Serial No. 388,310

Renewed August 15, 1934 18 Claims.

' My invention relates to systems of control and has particular relation to control systems applied to elevators, hoists and similar machinery.

In modern elevator installations, it is usual to 5 have a number of elevators operating in adjacent hatchways past the same floors to thereby constitute a bank or battery of elevators giving service to all of the floors past which the cars move. The most eflicient service in such battery or bank of elevator installations is achieved when the elevators are so spaced apart in the hatchways that each of the elevators in the bank passes a given figlor at substantially regularly spaced time interv s.

However, due to the variable nature of the traffic conditions under which elevators are operated, it frequently happens that an elevator makes a. greater number of stops during one trip than does'the next following elevator, and in this manner, the following elevator will overtake the first and thereafter run substantially in unison with the first car.

, It is readily apparent that such condition means that at'any floor at which a passenger desires to board the car, both elevators will arrive at approximately the same time, both will stop and the passenger will have to choose between the one or i the other of the cars.

Such operation is inefllcient, since one of the cars will have made the stop for no purpose, and it is to avoid such operation as this that I have devised a system which will prevent two cars from stopping at the same floor and which will ensure that the cars shall be spaced apart in the hatchway.

An object of my invention, therefore, is'to provide a control system for a bank of elevators wherein the cars will be forced to become spaced apart in the hatchways.

Another object of my invention is to provide a control system for a bank of elevator cars wherein any car provides a block extending any selected 7, number of floors in advance of the car to prevent fioor at which a call is registered shall receive the call and prevent thecall from being received by any other car in the bank.

Another object of my invention is to provide a control system for a bank of elevator cars wherein a call for service may be registered for all of the elevator cars in the bank but which is receivable only by the first car to approach the corresponding floor, to the exclusion of all other cars, and in which, until the first car to approach the fioor has left the floor after making the required stop, shall prevent the stopping of any other car at that floor in response to calls for service registered prior to the actual departure of the said first car.

Another object of my invention is to provide a control system for a bank of elevator cars in which floor lanterns provided at the floors for indicating the approach of a car shall be illuminated in advance of the approach of the car when the car is at any predetermined distance in advance of the corresponding floor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a call system for a bank of elevators whereby registered calls for service at the several floors are maintained until the call has been answered by the stopping of a car at the corresponding floor in response thereto.

Other objects of my invention will be developed in the description of my invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figures 1 and 2 jointly constitute a diagrammatic view of an elevator installation embodying my invention as applied to a bank of two elevator cars.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated two elevator cars C and C operating in adjacent hatchways (not shown) to serve six floors indicated by the broken lines marked 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.

' Each of the elevator cars C may be suitably driven by means of a variable-voltage-drive, that for car C constituting an elevator-hoisting motor EM having its armature directly coupled to a hoisting drum D over which passes a cable CA attached, at one end, to the elevator car C and, at the other end, to a suitable counterweight (not shown).

The elevator motor EM is provided with a separately-excited field winding EMF connected, for constant-voltage energization, to a source of current indicated by line conductors Ll andLZ. The armature of the elevator motor EM is connected in loop circuit with the armature of a generator G which, in turn, is provided with a separatelyexcited field winding GF and a cumulative series field winding GSF. The armature of the generator G is suitably driven at a constant speed by means of a driving motor M, illustrated as of the shunt-wound type having its armature and its field winding MF connected in parallel relation to the source of current LI and L2."

The direction and speed of operation of the elevator car C may be suitably controlled by varying the direction and amount of excitation current supplied to the generator and separatelyexcited field winding GF by manipulation, respectively, of an up-direction switch I, a downdirection switch 2 and a speed relay 3 which, in turn, are controlled by a car switchCs mounted upon the car C to be actuated by an attendant on the car.

While my system is adapted for use with any of the elevator control systems which will provide for stopping the car accurately level with the floors which it serves, I have illustrated my system as applied to an automatic inductor-landing system of the type shown in the copending application of E. M. Bouton, Serial No. 731,291, filed August 14, 1924 and assigned to the Westinghouse'Electric & Manufacturing Company wherein the direction switches I and 2 and the speed switch 3, when actuated,'are maintained in operative position until the car passes predetermined points in the hatchway in advance of the floors at which stops are to be made, at which times, inductor relays will automatically cause deener- 'gimtion'of these switches and relays at the appropriate times to cause the car to be brought to a stop at the floorlovel.

I haveillustrated-a plurality of inductor. relays carried by the car C, including a stop relay SR forstopping the car at the floor level, an up slow-down inductor relay UR for initiating deceleration in advance of stopping when the car is travelling upwardly and a down slow-down inductor relay DR for initiating deceleration when the car istravelling downwardly. I

In order that a car which is to stop at any floor may indicate this fact in advance of the arrival 'of the car at the floor, each of the cars is provided with a group of hall lanternsassociated with the floors which it serves; those for car C being designated by the reference characters IL at the first floor, 2LU and 2LD at the second floor to indicate, respectively, the approach of the car C, when travelling in the upward and downward directions. In like manner, hall lanterns 3LU, SLD, ILU, lLD, 5LU, 5LD and GL perform similar services for the third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors, respectively;

To enable passengers on a car to signify their desires to leave the car at the several floors, a plurality of push buttons are mounted upon the car to be operated either by the passengers thereon'or by the attendant in'response to notification by thepassengers to thereby register the stops which are to be made for the exit of passengers from thecar. These buttons are designated by the reference characters C2, C3, C4 and C5 for the second, third, fourth and fifth floors, respectively. v I

Persons desiring to board any of'the cars C, C or others which may be in the bank may signify their intention to do so by operating up and down car-calling buttons mounted at the several floors past which the cars move. It will be understood that the elevator car C will stop at the first and sixth floors (the terminal floors) without the mar?- necessity of providing call buttons for these floors. Hence, I have illustrated an up button F2U and a down button F2D at the second fioor for permitting a prospective passenger to register his desire to travel either upwardly or downwardly from the second floor.

In like manner, buttons FSU, FID, FlU, FlD. FSU and FSD may be manipulated to signify the intention of persons to travel upwardly or downwardly from the third, fourth and fifth floors, respectively.

A floor relay is provided for each of the buttons to be controlled, thereby to register the call initiated by the button and to maintain the call registered until it has been answered, without making it necessary that the passenger shall hold the button in depressed condition until the car answers the call. R2D and RZU are associated, respectively, with buttons F2D and F2U, while buttons F3U, F3D. etc. have similar relays R3U, R3D, RlU, BAD, RBU and B5B associated therewith.

Each of the relays R2U and R2D, etc. is provided with two energizing coils wound in opposition to each-other in such manner that one of the coils, when energized, causes the relay to be actuated to close its contact members while the operation of the other coil opposes the effect of the first coil to cause the relay to open its contact members.

The car calling circuits, controlled by buttons F2U, FZD and relays R2U and B2B etc., extend in parallel relation to corresponding groups of segments on the floor selectors, one of which is associated with each car in the bank of elevators to which my invention is to be applied. The floor selector FS associated with car C comprises a suitable base'20 upon which are mounted a plurality of groups of contact segments arranged to be engaged by a plurality of contact brushes carried upon a movable arm MA moved over the face of the floor selector FS by means of a screw 2! Floor-call registering relays connected to be driven in any suitable manner corresponding to the movements of the elevator car past the various floors which it serves.

The movable arm' MA is suitably mounted upon the screw 2| to be rocked about the screw to bring all of the contact brushes tothe left of the screw 2| into a position of possible engagement with the contact segments on the left-hand side of the floor selector FS when the car is travelling upwardly and to simultaneously move the contact brushes on the right-hand side of the movable arm MA out of possible engagement with the segments on the right-hand side of the floor selector FS when the car is travelling upwardly by reason of a throw-over magnet US which is energized when the car is to travel upwardly; In a similar manner, a throw-over magnet DS maybe energized when the car is travelling downwardly to reverse the position of the movable arm MA for permitting, under these circumstances,

the engagement of only those contact brushes on 7' the right-hand side of the arm MA to engage their associated selector segments.

The contact segments on floor selector F8 are divided into groups 22, 23, 24, 25, 2B, 21. 28, 29, 30,31, 32 and 33, each of which groups comprises a segment for each of the floors served by the car arranged in two parallel lines distinguished from each other by the reference characters X and Y, with the exception of groups 25 and 30, which groups have all of the contact segments arranged in a single vertical line. The segments in group 22 are connected to the up hall lanterns, the segments in line X being connected, respectively, to up hall lanterns ZLU, Mid and ESL for the even numbered floors, while the segments in the other or Y line are connected, respectively to up hall lanterns SLU and SLU sociated with the odd numbered floors, (the third and fifth floors), respectively.

The segments in group 22 are arranged to be traversed by a pair of contact brushes 22a carried upon the movable arm MA, the brush X in this group being arranged to make contact successively with the segments in the X line of group 22, While the brush Y is arranged to make contact with the segments in the Y line of group 22.

The contact segments in group 23 are, in like manner, divided into two lines X and Y, those in line X being connected to resistors and 31, while those in line Y are connected, respectively, to resistors 34 and 35. Brushes 23a, including an Xbrush and a Y brush, are arranged to traverse lines X and Y, respectively, of the segment group Contact segments in group 24 are, in like manner, divided into two lines X and Y, those segments in the X group being connected, respectively, to be energized in response to floor calls arranged to traverse the respective X and Y lines of, segment group 24.

The segments in group 25 are respectively connected to the cancellation coils RZUC, RBUC,

RAUC and R5UC and are arranged to be traversed by a brush 25a carried by the movable arm MA.

Contact segments in group 26 are arranged in two lines X and Y. These segments in line X are connected to the energizing coil of inductorenergizing relay 1X, while those in line Y are connected to the energizing coil of inductor-energizing relay TY. The segments in group 26 are arranged to be traversed by a pair of brushes 25a, one of these brushes X being arranged to traverse the X line. and the other, Y, to traverse the Y line of segment group 26.

Segment group 21 is also divided into an X line and a Y line, connected, respectively, to the second and fourth floor car buttons C2 and C4 and to the third and fifth floor car buttons C3 and C5 and are arranged to be traversed by a group of contact brushes 27a in like manner comprising anX and a Y brush.

In a similar manner, contact segments 28, 29, 30, 3|, 32 and 33 are divided into X and Y lines for each group and are arranged to be connected, respectively to the car call buttons, the inductor energizing relays IX and TY, the cancellation coils R2DC, etc. on the floor-call registering relays R2D,.etc., the call registering relays R213, R3D, etc. to transmit the registered calls to the car, to resistors 38, 39, and 4 I, and tothe down fioorlantems IL, 2LD, 3LD, 4LD and 5L1), in a manner corresponding to the connection of groups 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 21 on the left-hand or upside of the floor selector.

Disposed in the center of the floor selector FS,

. I have illustrated a pair of normally-closed contime, I have provided a pair of block relays 4X and 4Y connected to be energized successively as the car C approaches the various floors which it serves. Similarly, block relays 4X and 4Y are provided for car C', and for all other cars in the bank. As previously described, I have pro vided resistors 34, 35,36,291 and 38, 39, id and M, or two resistors for each intermediate floor past which the cars operate. The resistors 35 and 3'1", and 34 and 36 are connected to block relays 4X and respectively, through the corresponding segments in group 23 on the left hand or up side of the floor selector F'S, while resistors 39 and M and 38 and All are connected to block relays X and ll through the corresponding segments on the right-hand or down side of the floor selector FS.

It will be observed that each resistor is a co l-- inon member in a circuit having a branch for each car, including a floor selector segment and a blocl; relay for that car. It is, therefore, readily apparent that, if the floor selectors for two or more cars should complete the circuits to the block relays for those cars simultaneously, the voltage drop across the common resistor would be considerably greater than would be the case if only one circuit were completed. Conversely, the voltage drop across the coil of each individual relay would be considerably lessened. Depending upon the ohmic value of the resistor and the characteristics of the coils of the several block relays, the voltage available to the coils under these conditions may be below the pick-up or actuating value for the coils. To further decrease the voltage available to each coil, additicnal resistors (as m5, etc., the operation of which will be. hereinafter described) may be arranged for connection in shunt relation to the various block relay coils. In this case, upon actuation of any block relay, the voltage drop across maintain it actuated. In the preferred embodi ment of my invention, I have shown block relays requiring the use of the additional resistors, although, as stated, under certain conditions. such additional resistors may not be required. Either method, properly employed, will permit of the actuation of the block relay for only one car at one time.

In order to cause the elevator car to be stopped in response to the calls for service registered either by actuation of the floor call buttons FEU, etc., or the car call buttons C2, G3, etc., I have provided a plurality of car-stopping relays, including a pair of floor-call stopping relays 5X and EY, respectively, associated with block relays did and 4'1? and an additional pair of carstopping relays GK and EY to be controlled from the car buttons C2, C3, etc.

Relays 5X and 6X, when actuated,"ccntrol an inductor-energizing relay 5X to complete a circuit hereinafter described for the coils of inductor relays UR and DR to cause the car to stop level with the floors. A second inductor-energizing relay 'IY is associated with relays 5Y and 6Y for also energizing the coils of the inductor relays UR and DR.

My inventionwill best be understood with reference to an assumed elevator operation.

Assuming that elevator car C is standing at the first floor and it is desired to start this car upwardly, the attendant on the car will move car switch Cs in a clockwise direction to complete a circuit for the up-direction switch I to thereby cause the car to start upwardly. The circuit for up-direction switch I extends from line conductor LI, through conductor 45, contact members 46 on stop inductor relay SR, conductors 41 and 48, the coil of up-direction switch I, conductor 49, contact members 59, 5| and 52 on car switch Cs and conductors 53 and 54, to line conductor L2.

Up-direction switch I, when energized, supplies current in one direction to the separatelyexcited field winding GF of generator G, which circuit extends from line conductor LI, through conductors 55, 56 and 51, contact members b on up-direction switch I, conductors 58 and 59, field winding GF, conductors 69 and, 6|, contact members 0 on up-direction switch I, conductor 62, resistor R and conductor 63, to line conductor L2. Generator G will, therefore, supply current to the armature of the elevator motor EM to cause this motor to start the car in the upward direction at a speed determined by the value of the resistor R.

Up-direction switch I, when energized, also completes a self-holding circuit'for itself which extends from line conductor LI, through conductors 45, etc., to conductor 48, as previously described, thence through the coil of up-direction switch I, conductor 64, contact members a on up-direction switch I and conductor 65, to line conductor L2. Hence, until stopping inductor relay SR opens its contact members 46, the car will continue to travel in the upward direction at slow speed. I

If it is desired to operate the elevator car C at high speed, the attendant may move car switch Cs to a further position in a clockwise direction to complete a circuit for actuating speed relay 3 which circuit extends from line conductor LI through conductors 45 and 66, contact members 61 on down slow-down inductor relay DR, conductor 68, contact, members 69 on up slow-down inductor relay UR, conductor 19, the coil of speed relay 3, conductor II, thence, in series relation, through normally closed contact members 0 on each of the car-stopping relays 6X and 6Y and fioor stopping inductor relays 5X and 5Y, thence, by way of conductor I2, contact members 13, 5| and '52 on car switch Cs and conductors 53 and 54, to line conductor L2.

Speed relay 8, when energized, shunts resistor section R out of the generator-field-winding circuit by way of its contact members I), thus supplying full line voltage to the field winding GF of the generator G, and this relay also completes a self-holding circuit for itself which extends, as previously described, from line conductor LI, through conductors 45 and I9, the coil of speed relay 3, conductor I4, contact members a on speed relay 3 and conductor I5, to line conductor v L2. Hence, until either down slow-down inductor relay DR or up slow-down inductor relay UR is actuated to open its associated contact members, the car will continue to travel upwardly at high speed.

It will be observed that, at the time at which the car C was standing at the first floor, the wedge-shaped piece of insulating material 44 on movable arm MA 01' the floor selector FS was in engagement with, and separated, contact members of normally closed switch 42 on floor selector FS, thereby opening the circuit for downdirection determining relay 8 and permitting the completion of a circuit for up-direction-determining relay 9. The circuit for up-direction-determining relay 9 extends from line conductor LI, through conductors 55 and 11, the normally closed contact members of switch 43 on floor selector FS, conductor 18, the coil of up-directiondetermining relay 9, conductor 19, normally closed contact members a on down-direction-determining relay 8 (now closed since this relay is deenergized), conductor 89, normally closed contact members on the reversing button D carried upon the car C and conductors 8|, 82 and 54, to line conductor L2.

Up-direction-determining relay 9, when energized, completes a circuit for energizing the up selector throw-over magnet US to cause the lefthand groups of brushes on the movable arm MA of fioor selector F8 to be moved into possible engagement with the left-hand or up groups of segments 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 21 and to move the left-hand groups of brushes out of possible engagement with segment groups 28, 29, 39, etc.

Assuming now that a person at the third fioor' desired to travel upwardly and actuated button F3U, call registering relay R3U will have been energized-by way of a circuit which extends from line conductor LI, through conductor 99, button F3U, conductor 81, the energizing coil 88 on relay R3U and conductors 89, 99 and 54, to line conductor L2. The energization of call-registering relay R3U supplies current from line conductor LI to segment 9I in Y line of group 24 on the floor selector FS by way of a circuit extending from line conductor LI through conductor 92, the contact members of relay R3U, conductor 98. conductors 93 and 94 to a Junction point 99, whence one branch extends, by way of conductor 96, to segment 9| in group 24, while another branch extends, by way of conductors 91 and 99, to a corresponding contact segment 9|" on floor selector FS' associated with the second car C in the bank and, as may readily be observed, to the corresponding contact segment on as many other fioor selectors as there are cars in the bank of elevators to which my invention may be applied.

Thus, the call for service at the third fioor is registered and maintained upon the floor selectors for all of the cars in the bank. However, assuming that car C is the first car to approach the third floor, it will be observed that brush Y of group 23a will move into engagement with contact segment 98, constituting one of the segments in the Y line of group 23. A circuit wfll, therefore, be completed for energizing block relay 4Y which extends from line conductor LI, through resistor 36, conductors 99 and I99, segment 98 on fioor selector FS, brush Y of group 2311 on floor selector arm MA, conductor I9|, the coil of block relay 4Y, conductors I02, I93 and I94, the normally closed contact members of a. bypass switch BP and conductors 82 and 54, to line conductor L2.

Upon energization, relay 4Y closes its contact members a to insert the additional resistor I95 in the circuit just traced. As previously described, the eflfect oi resistor I95 is to immediately inorease.the voltage. drop across resistor 31 and to decrease the voltage across the coil of relay 4Y.

lf while relay Y is, actuated; car C should approach the third floor,,travellin'g in the up direction, a circuitwould be completedthrough its floor selector F8 to its block relay HY, similar to'the one traced for relay 4Y. However, as previously described, upon completion of such second circuit, the voltage drop across resistor 31. is further increased, and the voltage available to the coil of relay 4Y' is reduced to a value below that necessary to actuate it. Car does not, therefore, receive the call and so passes by the floor. As hereinafter described, under such conditions, the call cancellation means associated with the car C are ineffective to cancel the registered call.

The relay 4Y, when energized,,partially completes a circuit for floor-call stopping relay 5Y by way of its contact members b, which is completed by theengagement of the Y brush in group 24a on floor selector arm MA with an energized contact segment in the Y line of segment group 24. Hence, since segment! is now energized, as

, hereinbefore described, a circuit is-completed for energizing floor-call stopping relay 5Y which extends from line conductor- LI to segment 9i, as previously described and thence, by way of the 'Y brush in group 24a, conductors I06, I01 and I08, contact members b and block relay AY, conductor I09, the coil of floor call stopping relay 5'2, conductor III], conductors I42 and IM, bypass button BP, and conductors 82 and 54, to line conductor L2.

Car-call stopping relay when energized, closes its contact members a to complete a circuit for'the hall lantern corresponding to the floor at'which the car is next to stop (in this case, the third floor hall lantern 3LU) from line con-' ductor LI, through conductors 83 and III, hall lantern 3LU, conductor II2, segment H3 in the Y line of segment group 22, the Y brush of group 220, on selector arm MA, conductors II4, I I5 and H6, contact members a on relayBY, conductors I I1, I42 and IM, bypass button BP and conductors 82 and 54, to line conductor L2. Floor lantern 3LU will, therefore, be energized to indicate that car C is to stop at this floor to pick up: the prospective passenger. It will be observed, from an inspection of the fioorselectorFS, that, at the instant of lighting the floor lantern 3LU, the car was less than one-fourth the distance to the second floor. In other words, slightly less than two floors away from the point at which the stop to be made. This distance is indicated by the fact that segment 5 :13 has its lower extremity at a point less than one-fourth the distance between the broken lines crossing the floor selector FS bearing the legend lst and 2nd, these broken lines representing the position of the movable arm MA when the car C is exactly level with the corresponding fioor. Hence, the prospective passenger has ample opportunity to move to a positionin front of elevator car C to be ready to board that car when it arrives level with the floor.

Floor-call stopping relay 5Y, when energize also partially completes a circuit for energizing inductor-energizing relay 'IY which is completed when the Y brush in group 26a engages the third floor segment inthe Y line of group 26. This circuit extends from line conductor LI, through conductors 55 and 56, contact members I; on relay iY,"conductors H9, I 20. and IZI, the Y brush in group 26a, segment I22 constituting the third floor, segmentin the -Y line of segment group 26,

conductor I23, segment I24, conductor I25, the coil of inductor energizing relay 'IY, throw-over switch I'I8, conductor H8 and conductor 15, to,

of the direction switches I and 2 and speed relay 3 are energized, without interrupting the operation of the car, since these switches are maintained in operative condition by way of their self-holding circuits. Hence, at the time inductor-energizing relay I1 is energized, the car switch Cs should be in the neutral or ofi position.

The circuit for energizing inductor relay UR extends from line conductor LI, through con'-' ductor 45, the coil of inductor relay UR, conductor I29, contact members 6 on up-direction switch I, conductors I38 and ISI, contact members of inductor energizing relay IY, conductor I32, throwover switch I33, conductor I34, contact members E35, 5! and 52 on car switch Cs and conductors 53 and 5G, to line conductor L2.

As is described in the Bouton applicationpre viously mentioned, the car will continue to travel after energization of the coil of the inductor relay until the car, in its approach to the floor at which it is desired to stop, brings the inductor relay UR adjacent an inductor plate mounted in the hatchway at a predetermined distance in advance of the selected floor level. .Hence, after the car C, in its upward travel, brings inductor relay UR adjacent to its cooperating inductor plate mounted at that distance in advance of the third floor at which deceleration must start in order that the car may be stopped at the third floor level, relay UR will he energized to open its contactmembers 59, thereby breaking the. selfholding circuit for speed relay 3. Deenergization of speed relay 3 reinserts resistor R in series rela tion to the generator field winding G1 to' thereby cause reduction of the car speed from its high speed to a lower speed.

Deenergization of relay 3 also completes a circuit for energizing the coil of inductor relay SR- which extends from line conductor LI, through conductors 45 and I26, the coil of inductor relay SR, conductor I27, normally closed contact members c of relay 3, conductors I28 and I 66, the contact members of relay TY, conductor I32, throw-over switch I33, conductor I34, contact members I35, 5! and 52 of the car switch Cs, and

conductors 53 and 54 to line conductor L2.

As the car continues to travel, at reduced speed, towards the third-floor level, inductor relay "SR will, in turn, be brought adjacentto an inductor plate cooperating with this relay, which plate is mounted substantially at a level with the third floor. Actuation of inductor relay SR by itsine ductor plate will cause the opening of contact members 46 on relay SR. to thereby open the self-,

holding circuit for up-direction switch I, cutting off excitation of the generator field winding GF' and causing the setting of the brake (not shown) to stop the car at the third floor level;

In the present assumed operation, the call for service at the third floor was registered prior to the time that the slow-down inductor relay UR passed its associated inductor plate. It will be apparent, however, that, had the callbeen regis tered after relay UR passed its associated induce tor'plate but before relay SR passed its associated inductor plate, the stopping means of car C would have been ineffective to cause that car to respond to the call, by reason of the interlock between the coils of these relays, which provides that the stopping inductor relay SR cannot act to bring the car to a stop until inductor relay UR has acted to slow the car down to landing speed.

It will be observed that, during the entire time the car is decelerating and making the stop at the third floor, brush Y of group 23a on floor selector arm MA remainsin engagement with the contact. segment 98 associated with the third floor. This is illustrated in the drawing which shows that segment 98 extends upwardly slightly beyond the dotted line indicating the third-floor level. Hence, during the entire time the car is decelerating to make the stop at the third floor and also during the entire time the car is standing at the third floor, the circuit for block relay Y is maintained. Hence, during all of this time, the signal which originated from the third floor by'actuation of button F8U is rendered ineffective to be transmitted to any 01' the other cars in the bank.

Also, it will be observed that, during the entire time the car is decelerating to make the stop and isstanding at the third floor, brush Y of brush group 2201. on floor selector arm MA remains in engagement with the floor-lantern segment 3 to maintain floor lantern 3LU illuminated. Hence, a prospective passenger desiring to travel upwardly and arriving in sight of the elevator during the time car C is making the stop, will be immediately notified as to the direction in which the car is to travel when it leaves the third floor. This person may board car C it it is travelling in the direction in which he desires to go without making it necessary that he should operate the third-floor button F3U,

I and also making it unnecessary that another car in the bank should make the stop at the third floor.

This is perhaps more clearly illustrated by the statement that it hasbeen observed that persons arriving in front of the elevator bank, in the habit of pressing the call buttons for the floors, will operate the button, even though a car is standing at that floor. It will be observed that,

'. in W system, even though this unnecessary operation of the button is made, the registration of the call will not cause another car in the bank to stop at that floor because, during all of the time within which the car is decelerating to stop and is standing at a floor, the call-registering system is disabled to prevent the receipt or a registered call by any of the cars.

Since the hall call for the floor at which a car is standing or for which a car is decelerating to make a stop is maintained independent of the call-registering buttons and relays for that floor and, since the block relay 4Y (or 4X) for that floor prevents the eflective registration of a call for that floor for any other car, it is immaterial at what time, between the initial picking up of the call and the departure of the car from the floor, the cancellation of the call is effected. However, in view of the possibility that, while the car is standing at a floor, a prospective passenger may inadvertently operate the call button forthat floor to register a call, which, if not cancelled, will cause the unnecessarystopping of another car in the bank, I have arranged my system to cancel the registered calls when'the cmleaves the floor after the stop has been made.

As has previously been explained, each call-registering relays RZU, RSU, etc. have arranged thereon'a cancellation coil wound in opposition to the pick-up coil for that relay, which cancellation coil, when energized, neutralizes the efiect of the pick-up coil to permit the relay to drop out'and open its contact members. As has also been previously explained, the cancellation coils for each of these relays are respectively connected to corresponding segments on the floor selector FS arranged in group 25. From an inspection of the drawing, it will be observed that the segments in group 25 are relatively short and are so located as to be engaged by brush 25a only when the car is approximately level with the corresponding floor.

Hence, when the car C is standing at the third floor level, brush 25a will be in engagement with contact segment I36 of segment group 25. However, it will be observed that the circuit which supplies current to brush 25a extends through,

a counter E. M. F. relay CEMF. This relay has its coil so connected across the conductors connecting the armature oi the generator G with the armature of the elevator hoisting motor as to be energized by the voltage supplied to the elevator motor. The coil of this relay is to be so selected that it will pick up when the car speed is above a relatively low value but will not drop out its contact members until the car speed is reduced to approximately zero. Also, it will be observed that the circuit for brush 25a extends through contact members it on either the updirection switch I or down-direction switch 2.

Hence, the only time at which current will be supplied to brush 25 is when the direction switch has been actuated to start the car after a stop has been made and before the speed 01 the car has reached such value as will cause actuation of relay CEMF. In other words, the only time brush 25 will receive current is when the car is restarting after making a stop. The circuit through brush 25 for energizing the cancellation coil RSUC for the third floor relay R3U extends from line conductor LI, through conductor 92, the contact members of relay R3U, conductor .93, cancellation coil RSUC, conductor I81, the junction point I88, whence one branch extends by way of conductor I89, contact segment I36 of group 25, brush 25a, conductor I, normally closed contact members of counter E.'M. F. relay CEMF, conductor I, contact members don up-direction switch I, conductors I42 and I04, normally closed contact members oi! by-pass switch BP and conductors 82 and 54, to line conductor L2. Hence, upon restarting the elevator car C after making the stop at the third floor, call-registering relay R3U will be restored to its non-operating position.

The car may proceed upwardly, stopping at all of the floors for which calls for service have been registered by actuation of the corresponding floor buttons, the operations for each of stops being identical with that described for the third floor.

It will be understood that the actuation of a call button at one of the even-numbered floors, for example, the fourth floor, will cause operation of the floor-call stopping relay 5X or the inductor-energizing relay IX to stop the car at the corresponding floor and will also operate the floor lantern'for the corresponding floor. For the even numbered floors, block relay 4X, instead of relay 4Y, will be effected to block all of the other cars from receiving the registered call.

Assuming that the passenger who boarded the car at the third floor desires to leave the car at the fourth floor and so notifies the attendant, the attendant will operat push button Ct; in the car to register the expressed intention of the passenger. l

The actuation of button C4 supplies current to segment M3, constituting one of the X group of segments in group 2?, by way of a partial circuit which extends from line conductor Ll, through conductors and M4, button 04, conductor I45, to segment M3.

The X segments in group 2'! are arranged to be traversed by an X brush of group 27a, on floor selector arm MA. From an inspection of the v brush X in group 230, is in engagement with segment MT in theX line of segment group 23 on floor selector FS,.so that block relay 4X energized to prevent any other car in the bank from receiving registered calls for the fourth floor.

"accomplishes three purposes; first, that of ener- The energization of car-call stopping relay arranging the contact members I) on relay 6X to energize brush X in group 2611 in the same mannor as was described with reference to the operation of relay 5Y. This circuit extends from line conductor Ll, through conductors 55, 5S and M3, contact members b on relay 6X, conductors Hi9, I and I51, brush X in group 26a, contact segment I52 in the X line of segment group 26, conductor I53, the coil of inductor energizing relay IX throw-over switch H7, and conductors 282 and 15, to line conductor L2.

, In explanation of the reason for causing immediate energization of relays 6K and lX when the car is standing at the third floor and it is desired to stop at the fourth floor, it should be observed that, with an elevator operating at such speeds as are ordinarily used at the present time, ranging from 600 to 900 feet per minute, the distance required to decelerate a car from high speed may exceed the distance between two adjacent floors. Hence, if a car is standing at one floor and it is desired to stop at the next floor, the car must not be permitted to accelerate to its high speed. Again, when the car is to operate at such high speed, the inductor plate for operating the high-speed inductor relay UR may be located more than one floor distance in advance or" the floor which it serves, in order to initiate deceleration from thelhigh speed when the car is at the beginning of "the deceleration distance for that floor. Therefore, when the car is standing at thethird floor, relay UR will have passed the 'zun. Moreover, the inductor-relay coils should be immediately energized because the car is to approach the slow-down point from even the lower speeds within such a short time after the starting of the car that these relays must be prepared, immediately upon starting the car, to be actuated whenv they pass the inductor plates associated with them.

The foregoing explanation illustrates why it is necessary that the second function of relay is incorporated in this system. Contact mem bers c on relaytX are included in the energia ing circuit for speed relay 3, so that, even though the attendant should move the car switch Cs to its extreme position, making contact with contact member "[3 on car switch Cs, speed relay 3 would not be picked up. The energizing circult for speed relay 3 was traced herein in describing the starting of the car from the first floor and, therefore, will not be repeated at this point.

The third function ascribed to relay 6X, name- 1y, that of lighting the floor lantern, is accomplished by contact members 0; on this relay, which, when actuated, complete a circuit to brush X in group 22a on selector arm MA to supply current through the fourth-floor halllantern segment 5 1 to thereby light lantern lL'U to indicate that a car is to stop at the fourth floor. This signal is given for the benefit of any persons who, arriving in front of the elevator a bank after the car is Within a predetermined distance from the fourth floor, with a call on the car register to make it necessary that this car shall stop at the fourth floor, will be notifled that the particular car is already under the necessity of stopping at that floor and that the prospective passenger is not, therefore, required to operate the call button F lU at that floor.

The car, upon being started from the third floor, will accelerate only to a slow speed and subject to the operation of stopping relay SR, will be automatically stopped level with the fourth floor, in a manner similar to that. described for the third-floor stop.

Button Ct, when depressed, will remain in such depressed condition by the effect of a holddown magnet 455 which is arranged to be constantly energized except for a momentary period at the ends of travel of the car. The energizing circuit for coil IE5 is controlled by direction-determining relays S and 9 in such manner that, when the car arrives at the upper terminal and the direction-determining relay 9 is deenergized to cause the changing over of the position of floor selector arm MA from the up side of the floor selector F3 to the down side thereof, the period between deenergization of di rection-determining and the energization of direction-determining relay 8 will cause a momentary deenergization of coil 55 to release all of the car buttons G2, etc. which may have been etuated during the upward trip of the car. It

will be observed that the circuit for coil Hi5 extends from line conductor Ll, through conductors 45 and M6, the coil conductor 15?, contact members 0 on up direction-determining relay 9 and conductor 85, to line conductor L2, or, when the car is travelling downwardly, the circuit extends, through conductor lfil, contact members 0 on down-direction determining relay 8 and conductor 35, to line conductor L2v It will be observed from the foregoing de scription that, as the car 0 moves upwardly, it will connect block relay 4X and its associamd resistor to the circuits extending in parallel relation to all of the floor selectors for all of the cars in the bank to disable the remainder of the cars from receiving calls for service from any floor within a zone of operation in advance of car C which is defined by the extent of the segments in group 23 in advance of the corresponding position of the car. In other words, as car C moves upwardly in the shaft, it provides a moving block in advance of its position, within which all call signals are disabled to actuate the stopping devices for the remaining cars inthe bank.

It will be further observed that the blocking of the calls from the remainder of the cars is eifective whether the car is moving or standing While the foregoing description of my system has dealt with the automatic stopping of the car in response to the registered calls, my system is equally applicable, as a signalling device, for signalling an attendant controlled ele vator that a stop is to be made, whereupon the attendant manipulates the control of the elevator car in such manner as will cause the car to respond to the registered call.

For this reason, I have illustrated a pair of flash signal lamps I58 and I59 as carried by the car C for signaling to the attendant that a stop is to be made. The signal lamps I58 and I59 are so connected in circuit with a switch I68 that the operation of these lights may be cut out if the car is to operate as one in which the car is automatically stopped by the push buttons rather than by the attendant.

The signal lamps I58 and I59 are arranged to be energized as the car approaches the signal zone in advance of the floor for which a call has been registered by connecting these lamps in a circuit which will be completed when the brushes in group 24a make contact with the corresponding floor segments in segment group 24 on floor selector FS.

It will be observed that a relay I6I is provided having three energizing coils I62, I63 and I64, any of which is capable of actuating the relay. It will be further observed that coil I64 is connected through contact members 0 on block relays 4X and 4Y to be energized when the X brush or the Y brush of group 24a contacts with energizing segments in the X line or the Y line of segment groups 24. Hence, assuming that a person at the third floor desires to travel upwardly and operatesbutton F3U, current will be supplied to contact segment 9| through conductors 92 to 96, in the manner previously described for the automatic operation. Therefore, as the car C appreaches the third floor, and contact brush Y of group 24a engages segment 9|, relay I6I will be actuated by way of a circuit which extends from segment 9I, through brush Y in group 24a, conductors I06, I81, and I65, contact members 0 on block relay 4Y, conductor I61, coil I64 of relay I6I and conductor I68, manually operated switch I69 and conductor to line conductor L2.

Relay I6I, when actuated, completes a circuit for energizing either lamp I58 or lamp I59, dependent upon whether the car is moving or is standing at a floor at the time brush X of group 24a engages contact member 9|.

Two lamps are provided for achieving the result of distinguishing between calls. for one floor runs and calls for runs of greater distance than one floor, in order'that the attendant may be prewarned before starting the car whether the car is to operate at ahigh speed or at a lower speed in order to make the next stop. If the car is standing at a floor, only signal lamp I59-is capable o1 operation since the circuit for this lamp extends in series relation through normally closed contact members g on both of the direction N switches I and 2, whereas the circuit tor the other lamp I58 extends through normally open contact members on either the nip-direction switch I or the down-direction switch 2. Hence, when the car is stationary, the circuit for lamp I58 is broken, while, when the car is moving, the circuit for lamp I59 is broken. I

Since, in our assumed example, the car was moving, a circuit will be completed for signal I58 which extends from line conductor LI, through conductors 55, 56 and I10, contact members of signal relay I6I, conductor I1I, contact members I on up-direction switch I, conductor I12, signal lamp I58, conductor I13, throw-over switch I83, and conductors 8|, 82 and 54, to line conductor L2. The energization of lamp I58 will warn the operator that he must make a stop at the third floor and he, therefore, returns the car switch Cs to neutral position.

When my system is to be utilized in signaling, rather than an automatic stopping system, throwover switch I33 should be moved from the full-line position illustrated to a position indicated by broken lines. Such changing of the throw-over switch I33 places the inductor-relay coils directly under the control of the car switch Cs, independently of inductor-energizing relays 1X or 11'. Hence, when the operator acting in response to the signal, centers the car switch, a circuit 1dr energizing the coil of inductor relay UR is completed from line conductor LI, through conductors 45, coil of relay UR, conductor I29, contact members e on rip-direction switch I, conductors I38, I3! and I66, throw-over switch I33, conductor I34, contact members I35, 5| and 52 on car switch Cs and conductors 53 and 54, to line conductor L2. Hence, as the car in its movement towards the third floor, brings inductor relay UR past its associated inductor plate, the car will be slowed down, and a circuit completed for the coil of inductor relay SR, extending from line conductor LI, through conductors 45 and I26, coil of relay SR, conductor I21, contact members c relay 3, now deenergized, conductor I28, conductor I66, and thence to line 2 as described for relay UR. When relay SR passes its associated inductor plate, it will act to stop the car as pre viously described.

Assuming that the passenger boarding the car at the third floor desires to travel to the fourth floor and that the attendant operates button 04 in the car, as previously described, it will be observed that signal lamp I59 will be energized to indicate that a stop is to be made at the next floor.

It will be observed that, when the car is standing at the third floor, block relay 4X will be energized by virtue of the X brush in group 23a being in contact with'the contact segment I41 in the segment group 23.

Actuation of buttonCl will supply currenttosegment I43 in group 21, as was previously described with reference to the full automatic oper. ation and, since the car is standing at the floor, brush X of brush group 21a will be in 0011f tact with segment m, and a circuit for energiaing coil I62 of signal relay I6I will be completed which extends from line conductor LI, through: the button C4 and segment I43, as previously described, brush X in group 210, conductors I45 and I14, the 0011 I62 of signal relay I6I and com 75,

enei gi'zing both of signals I58 and I59,

one of which, however, will be actuated; in asersignal 159, since the car is standing at third floor. 'I'hecircuit for signal I59 extends fi'oln line cgondu'cto'r Ll to contact members of signal relay llli I, previously described, and thence, 3) way of co'nductor I'll, contact members g on n tion switch 'I (now closed because the car st onary),,conductor l'lii, contact members 9 down-direction switch 2 (now closed since the car isfstationary) and conducto r I16, signal lamp, iii}, throw-over switch I60, and conductors d 54, to line conductor L2.

erefore, be observed that my blocking syste maybe utilized with a manually controlled J1 iiiey b Pla d or in whichthe attendant operates the car pons e, to signals as well as to an elevator car hich the stopping of the car is automatically he mplishedin response to the operation of callis Ri PR ai i qns- 1 a v sli table manually, operated switches IT! and in the circuits for relays 1X end fIY to cut outthe operation of these relays when the car is to be operated as a manuallycpntroiled elevator since these relays will pergorm no necessary function whenthecar is opern im r es anua c n o It will pe further observed that, whether the can operating as a full automatically controlled carpr as a nanually controlled car, the ,e iIect of blocking relaysAX and 4}; is to prevent the reception, by any car, of a, call for service withinthe zone contrclledby these relays when one of the cars in the bank has previously entered the acne and remains therein. In this manner,

'all ,the cars will be caused to stop only at the tigers for which service isactually desired, and a following car overtaking-the first car will receive signals to stop until after it has passed beyond thez one which, at that time, is under the control h -.fir iqa a On theother h nd, it will also be observed that the circuits for block relays 4X and 4Y, as well a s the circuits for relays 5 X, 53?, extend through thebypassswitch BP. Hence, if for any reason theattendant on the car is unable to answer the callsfpr service at the various floors and operates the bypass button BP, the block relays will not function to prevent other cars from receiving the calls which must be bypassed. The floor lanterns,

: indicating that the car is to'stop, will not be lighted nor will the inductor-energizing relays TX or, 135 be energizedto cause the stopping of thepsir ii the carz is under automatic control, or signallamps I58 and I59 will not be energized in the event, that, thecar is under manual control with signals, In thisway, unless and until a call has been actually answered by the stopping of a C84. at thecorresponding' floor, in response thereto, the ,registered call is maintained.

Eor example,-;if the car C, upon arriving at the 65 thirdxfioor, already contains so many passengers that it was impossible to, receive all of the persons atthe third floor desiring to board the car, the attendant could operate the bypass button, therebypermittingthe same. registered call to be transferred to the next car which approached the floor: thereafter withoutmaking it necessary that car shall have, moved out of the block zone set up ,bythe original actuation of block relay '4Y.

.clI-Iow'eventhe circuits for the coils .of relays 6X,

button BB. Since relays and CY a ler gized by way of circuits extendingthrough the car buttons, it becomes apparent that, whereas the operator can bypass calls forv service regis;

tered at the floor landings, he cannot bypass a 'fioor at which a passenger wishes to leave the car.

,Hence, it will be observed that I have provided a system in which a registered call maybe re;- ceived by only one car in thebank serving the floors from which such calls originated, and that such registered calls will be maintained actuated until the car has stopped at ,thefioor andhas restarted after making thestop, thereby, avoiding the necessity of requiring the passengers to again operatethe call-registering buttons in the ,event that, for some reason, the first car to'take control of the registered calls could not accomrno'date all or any of the passengers desiringservice. While the described and illustrated form of my invention is the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the description and illustration is illustrative of the principles of my invention, and I do not desire to be limited-to any .of the details shown therein except as defined in the means and circuits therefor individual to each car for receiving calls for service at said floor, electromagnetically operable means for .eachQcar, operable upon the application of voltage above a predetermined value, torender the call-receiving means forthat car effective tofreceive calls for service, a circuit for said floor having a portion thereof common to all of said cars, and. a plusrality of branches thereof, one forleachnof said cars, each branch including .the said electromagnetic operating meansfor that car, meansindi vidual to each car andoperable correspondingly to v the position of that car for completing the branch of said circuit for thatcar when said car is within a predetermined distance of said floonand means in said commonportion of said circuit operable upon the completion thereof through any branch for rendering the voltage available to the remainder of the said branches below the said predetermined value. ,1

2. In an elevator signalingsystem for a plurality of cars operable past a fiooncall-receiving means and circuits therefor individual to each car for, receiving calls fonService atrsaid, floor, electromagnetically operable ,means for each car and operable, uponapplication of voltagelabove a predetermined-value, to render the call-receiving means for that car effective to, receive calls for service at said floor, a circuit for said floor having a portion thereof common to all of said cars, and a plurality of branches thereof, one for each of said cars, each branch including the' elec-, tromagnetic. operating means for thatcar, means individual to eachcar and operable correspondingly to the position of said car with respect to said floor for completing the branch of said circuit ior said car w'hen said car is within a predetermined distance in advance of said floor, and means, including resistance means in said comnoon portion of said circuit, operable'upon com pletion thereof through any branch forrendering the voltage available to the remainder of the said branches below the said predetermined value. ,l, ,7

3. In an elevatorlsignaling system. for a plurality of. carsoperable past a fioor,i callreceiving BY, and IX and TY do not go through the bypassmeans and circuits therefor individual to each car for receiving calls for service at said floor, electromagnetically operable means for each car operable upon application of a voltage above predetermined value to render the call-receiving means for that car effective to receive calls for service, a circuit for said floor having a portion common to all of said cars and including voltagemodifying means, and a plurality of branches, one for each of said cars, each branch including the electromagnetic operating means for that car, means individual to each car and operable correspondingly to theposition of said car with respect to said floor for completing the branch of said circuit for that car' when said car is within a predetermined distance in advance of saidfloor, and additional means in each branch circuit operablyresponsive to the actuation of the electromagnetic operating means in that branchfor rendering the voltage available to the remainder of said branches below the said predetermined value. 7

4. In an elevator signaling system for a plurality of cars operable past a floor, call-receiving means and circuits therefor individual to each car for receiving calls for service .at' that floor; electromagnetically operable means for each car operable upon application of a voltage above a predetermined value to render the call-receiving means for that car effective to receive calls for service; a circuit for said floor having a portion thereof common to all of said cars and including a voltage-modifying means, and a plurality of branches, .one for each of said cars,'each branch including, for connection in parallel relation, resistance means and the said electromagnetic operating means for that car, means individual to each car and operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floor for completing the branch of said circuit for that car when the said car approaches within a predetermined distance in'advance of the said floor, and means, operably responsive to the actuation of the said electromagnetic operating means for that car, for connecting said electromagnetic operating means and said resistance means in parallel relation, thereby rendering the voltage available to the remainder of 'thesaid branches below the said predetermined value.

5. In a signaling system for a bank of elevators, a plurality of elevator cars operable past a floor, call-registering means on said floor common to all of the said cars, call-receiving means for each car, a circuit including said call-receiving means for each car and said call-registering means, electromagnetic means for each of said cars operable only upon the application of a voltage above a predetermined value, circuits therefor, means individual to each car and operable correspondingly to the position thereof relative to said floor for completing the circuit to the electromagnetic means for that car, means operated by each of said electromagnetic means operable to close the call-receiving circuit for the corresponding car when the said call-registering means has been operated, a portion of each of said circuits for the said electromagnetic means being common to the others, and a voltage-modifying means therein, a constant voltage being available in said circuit for the said electromagnetic means, means associated with each of the said electromagnetic means whereby the voltage drop across the said voltage-modifying means is increased when one of said electromagnetic means is actuated and the voltage to be supplied across the others of said electromagnetic means is decreased below the said predetermined value.

6. In an elevator signaling system for a plurality of elevator cars operable past a floor, callreceiving means and circuits therefor individual to each car for receiving calls for service at said,

when said car is within a predetermined distance i in advance of said floor, means in said common portion of said circuit operable upon the completion'thereoi' through any branch for rendering the voltage available to the remainder of the said branches below the said predetermined value, and

means in each of said branch circuits underthe control of an attendant on the corresponding car for rendering the electromagnetic means in that circuit ineifective for operation.

7. In a signaling system for a bank of elevator cars operable past a floor, call means at said floor, means common to all of said cars operable responsive to actuation of said call means for registering andmaintaining calls for service at said floor, call-receiving means and a circuit therefor for each of said cars, meansindividual to each car and operable correspondingly to the position of that car relative to said floor for connecting the call-receiving circuit for that carto said callregistering means, electromagnetic means foreach of said cars operable only upon application of voltage aboveapredeterminedva'hie, circuits therefor, means individual to each car and operable correspondingly to the position thereof relative to said floor for completing the circuit for the electromagnetic means for that car, switch means interposed in said call-receiving circuit for each car and operable upon actuation of the corresponding electromagnetic means for closing said call-receiving circuit, a portion of each of said circuits for the said electromagnetic means being common to the others and to a voltage-modifying means therein, a substantially constant voltage in the said circuit for the said electromagnetic means, means associated with each of the said electromagnetic means whereby the voltage drop across the said voltage-modify: ing means is increased when one of the said elee tromagnetic means is actuated, and the voltage capable of being supplied across the other of said electromagnetic means is decreased below the said predetermined value, means operable correspondingly to the position of said car relative to said floor for restoring said call-registering means to non-operated condition, means in each of said branch circuits under the control of an attendant on the corresponding car for rendering theelectromagnetic means in that circiut ineifective for operation and means for preventing actuation of said restoring means.

8; In a signaling system for a bank of elevators, a plurality of elevator cars operable past a floor, call-receiving means for each ofsaid elevator cars and circuits therefor, a portion of each of said circuits being common to the others, call-registering means on said floors in said pie-ting thecircui'tineluuin 'said voltage-modimeans and said corresponding electromag netic means within a predetermined zone in ad- "e ofthe ineans lated with said nonmagnetic-means operable only when said electron: agnetic in'ah'sis actuated, whereby the across said voltage modifyin'g means is andthe voltage across the others of said electromagnetic me'ansis' decreased below the many operable voltage, thus preventing me others or the said electromagnetic means nonr'is ifig aetuotee after one of the said el'c corresponding to the saidactuated electro magnetic meansis withintne said zene which is iii advanceor" theflool corresponding to the ac mates 'eiectramgneue "the voltage in momma including the samvoltage-marrying iii advance or the said floor, Within midi! the said eon-receiving means may be 1m tee effective to re'eeive tans for service would i'loz and a stepping zofi extending from me said lesser predetermined distance" in advanoaor the said tossed fi6oi within may be declefatedfrom highspeed to ffli seen 63? opjlabl upon application or Volt age above preoetennina vaiue ti)" render the msiveeaiis f6? service, a 6i hit for said floor" nsmgspmiofi tomes to an or said ears, and o muroiity or emu-endsmeteor, one for each fll'said ca'rs; each brliiicli'ineliiding the lctr6= operating: 16? that eats, means including sensing slim mooring zone inswmaorm seen our and aperture correspondin ly to the" or said ear with respect to the Gifihfdffiid "ca"? while'saiid ear" is within said awesome,-

iii said eonnnori our: tion of said circuit; Operable upon completion theieef -through branch for rendering the voltage available to the remainder of said branches below the said predetermined value.

10. In an elevator signaling system for a plurality of cars operable past a floor, call-receiving means and circuits therefor individual to each car for receiving calls for service at the said floor, "a eall zone extending from one prede te'rinined distance in advance of the said floor to a lesser predetermined distance in advance or the said 1160'! Within which the said callreceiving means may be rendered effective to receive calls for service at that floor, electromagnetically operable means for each car on erable upon application or voltage above a predetermined value to render the call-receiving means for that car effective to receive calls for service, a circuit for said floor having a poi-- tion common to all of said cars, and a plurality of branches, one for each of -said cars, each branch including the said electromagnetic opcrating means for that car, means including ineansdefining said call zone individual to each car' and operable correspondingly to the position of said car with respect to said floor for completing the branch of said circuit for said car While said car is within said call zone, and means 1 in said common portion of said circuit operable upon the completion thereof through any branch for rendering the voltage available to the remainder of the said branches below the said predetermined value.

11. In an elevator signaling system for a plurality of cars operable past a floor, car starting means individual to each car, car stopping means individual to each car, call registering means at said floor common to all of said cars for regis- 5 tering calls for service at said floor, electromagnetically operable means individual to each car and operable upon application of voltage above a predetermined value to render the said car stoppin'g means for that car effective for actuation by the said call-registering means for that floor, a circuit for said floor, having a portion common to all of said cars; and a plurality of branches;

one for each of said cars, each branch including the electromagnetic o erating means for that car, means individual to each car and operable correspondin 'ly to the position of said car with respeet'to the said floor for completing the branch or said circuit for that car when said car is within a predetermined distance in advance of the said floor, and means in said common portion or said circuit operable upon completion thereof through any branch for rendering the voltage available to the remainder of said branches below the said predetermined value.

I2.- In an elevator signaling system for a plurality or cars operable p'ast a flo'onattendant-controlled iiieans for each car for starting and stopping s aid oar, oall i'e g'istering' means at said floor common to all or cars, for registering calls for service at that floor; callr'eceivin'g means and circuits therefor individual to each of said cars for notifying the attendant to operate said atte'r'idant-cdntrolled means to stop said car, electrorriag-netioally operable means individual to each oai and operable upon application of voltage above a'pre'determined value to render the calI- receivingians for that car efiec'tive for actuation by said can-registering means, a circuit for floor having a portion common to all of said and a plurality or branches; one for each or said ears; eaoh' branch including the electro f'ria'gneitic op'i'atin'g means for that car, means individual to each ear and operable correspondingly to the position of said car with respect to said floor for completing the branch of said circuit for that car when said car is within a predetermined distance in advance of said floor, and means in said common portion of said circuit operable upon completion thereof through any branch for rendering the voltage available to the reminder oi, said branches below the said predetermined value. p a I v 13. In a control system for a plurality of .elevator cars operable past a floor, motive. means for each of saidqcars, and a controller for said cars, said controller including switchingmechanism individual to each car for controlling the motive means for that car, call meansassociated with'said floor and common to all of said cars for establishing a call for service at that floor, means individual to each car and adapted to respond to the operation of said callmeans to cause operation of the switching mechanism for that car to stop that car and. selective means rendered effective when any .car approaches said floor for preventing operation of the switching mechanism for all but one of said cars in response to the operation of said-call means, said selective means comprising a circuit including a selective relay actuable by voltage of a predeter+ mined value and individual to each of said cars, a source of voltage for said circuit, and means responsive to the operation of any of said selective relays for decreasing the voltage available to the others of said relays below said predetermined value, and circuit connections whereby the'operation of the stopping switch mechanism for any car depends upon the previous operation of the selective relay for that car; 14. A control system for an elevator car comprising contactorscontrollable manually, oppositely wound windings'operatively associated with said contactors, one'efiective when energized to actuate said contactors and to maintain them in actuated position and the other to neutralize the action of the maintaining winding to return said contactors to normal position and a circuit controllable by the car and completed to energize said other winding only if the car stops at-said landing.

l5. A control system for a plurality ofv elevator cars operable past a floor comprising a control for said floor common to all of said cars; decelerating mechanism for each of said cars operable in accordance with the movements of the associated car to initiate the deceleration of such car; and means for causing the deceleration 01 one of said cars in response to an operation of said control upon the approach of said one car to said floor and for preventing deceleration of the others of said cars'in response to said operation of said control, said last named means comprising means responsive to said operation of said control, preventing mechanism operable when said car reaches a point a predetermined distance in advance of said floor and means operable when said car reaches a second point a lesser predetermined distance in advance of said floor for rendering said decelerating mechanisinefiective. 16. A control system for a plurality of elevator carsoperable past a plurality of floors comprising a control for each of said floors common to all of said cars; decelerating'mechanism for each or said cars operable in accordance with the movements of the associated car to initiate the slowdown of the associated car when suchcar reaches the slowdown point for any of said floors; and control means, for causing operationoi the decelerating mechanism of one 01 saidcats upon its approach to meet said floors in to the control for saidone floor and for preventing deceleration oi the others or said cars in responseto said operation of said control, said control means comprising means responsive to said one control, preventing mechanism cues,- able when said one car reaches a point a predetermined distance inadvance of the floor'eats responding to said operated control. and means ing a control for each of said floors common to all of said cars; decelerating mechanism for each of said cars operablein accordance with the movements of the associated car to initiate the-slowdown of the associated car when such car reaches the slowdown pointior any 01 said floors; and control means, for causing operation otthe decelerating mechanism alone at said sponse toanoperation-ot one of saidfloor conv trols and i'orpieventing deceleration of M91111? ers of said cars in response tosaid operation 0! said one control, said control means comprising means responsive to said one controhfloor selector mechanism operable when said one car reaches a point a predetermined. distance in advance 0! the floor correspondingto said one eontrolto prevent the deceleration or said others of saidcars in response tosaid operation of said one control, and additional floor selector mechanism (or rendering eflective the decelerating mechanism of said one car and operable when said one car reaches a point a lesser predetermined distance in advance of the floor corresponding to said one control. j v 18. A control system for a plurality at elevator cars operablepast a plurality of floors comprising a controller each of said'floors common to all of said cars; a signal for each e4 ssaid floors individual to 'eachof said cars; decelerating mechanism for each of said cars operable intaccordance with the movements of the car to initiatev the, slowdown of the car when such car reaches'the slowdown point .80! any of saidfloors; and control means, for causing the'deceleration of one of said cars in respome to operation of. one or said controlst tor prevenh ing deceleration oftheothers 01! said can in re,- sponse to said operation of said control And for actuating the signal for such one car to: the floor corresponding to saidoperated controlled! control means comprising -means responsive to operation of said one control, preventing means and signal actuating means operable when said one of said cars reaches a-pointya prede distance in advance of the floor corresponding to said'operated control, and means for rendering effective-said decelerating" mechanism :30! said one of said cars when that carreachesa point a-lesser predetermined distance in advance of the floor corresponding to saidope'rated control.

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